Tips for schooling kids on the road

Keeping the kids on track with their schooling is an important consideration for young families wanting to experience life on the road.

Schoolwork can be done while travelling in the car so that playtime is maximised at camp.

In the June issue of Caravan World, Tania Connolly shares the experiences of several young families, all on the road for an extensive amount of time, and all who were focused on ensuring their kids didn’t get left behind at school.

Some families opt for more formalised learning, such as distance schooling or online tutoring, whereas others take a more casual approach, including using workbooks, writing postcards and practising reading signs along the road and counting objects around camp.

There are plenty of alternatives, depending on your style of travel and you child’s needs. For those considering hitting the road, here are some tips:

Speak to your kids’ teachers and principal before you leave and get their advice on strategies and planning.

Decide what areas your kids need to focus on and where they might need extra help. If, for example, they struggle with maths, work on that area while you’re away.

Once you have decided on the type and level of work required, make the most of your time on the road and have the kids complete the majority of schoolwork in the car, while on route.

When you set up camp, create a designated space for school work and agree on a routine, with set times for completing tasks and rules around finishing schoolwork before playing.

If you enrol in distance education, arrange for any work to be sent to a forwarding address, and if you’re away for long periods, have a term’s worth of work posted all at once.

Check out some of the popular digital apps available – there are loads of educational ones out there. Some popular ones include Reading Eggs, Mathletics and Frozen Free Fall.

Keep in mind that internet access may be scarce in some places and plan ahead for those times.

Keep things fun and make the most of your time away, exploring new places and being outdoors. Use the things around you in the natural environment as learning tools, such as fossils, shells, medicinal plants and wildlife.

You can check out the full story from Tania on this topic in the June issue of Caravan World – on sale now.